TAX CREDITS Non-Public School Officials Like the Idea

hy Ed Harnett

Unanimous approval. Fervent hope.

Guarded optimism.

These are the reactions of area nonpublic officials to President Reagan’s proposed tax credit for tuition which would benefit the parents of some 2,000 pupils attending private and parochial schools in

"We feel the tax credits would help the many parents who scrimp to send their children to parochial school,” commented Sister Marita Celine, principal of St. Raymond’s School in Villas. "That's our big in-

terest." I

"THERE ARE TAX breaks for many things, such as energy conservation

Cape May County. ' "Nmeasures, but there are none for those who Reagan’s proposal would extend tuition choose to send their children to private

‘All those who support the plan should write their Congressmen’

schools,’’ said Alfred Munson, administrator of Atlantic Christian School, Ocean City. "If all the private school students went to the public schools in September, it would cost much more than

the tuition credits."

-Atlantic Christian has 200 enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. "Parochial school parents are paying twice for the same service, and should be given some help," declared Sister Catherine Dolorine, principal of St. Ann’s

(Page 18 Please)

tax credits of up to $500 per child to parents "who bear the double burden of public and

private school costs."

"IT’S A GOOD IDEA," said Chuck Woods, principal of South Jersey Christian Academy in Erma. “Since court decisions took prayer out of the public schools, those parents who choose to have their children instructed in moral and spiritual values by seeking alternative schools should not suf-

fer."

The school, which teaches kindergarten through 8th grade, has an enrollment of 97.

CAPE MAY

COUNTY ^ nmu

Doris Ward

A DEMANDING RACE for most seven-year-old novices, but old number 674 easily wheels his machine over the ‘and hill'stretch of the BMX course in Dias Creek, where the compeUtive bicycle moto cross season opened last weekend. See story Inside. NewSv~L!£~^

Week’s

Top Stories

Vol. 17 No. 17 C>mat»owov«Corp. AH rtgM» r—»rv»d.

April 28, 1982

Pines Plan Bothers Farmers

COURT HOUSE - Although the N.J. Pinelands Commission earlier this month conditionally approved the Cape’s master plan for development — pending certain revisions — County Planning Board member John MacLeod told fellow board members here last Tuesday the required revisions aren’t going to sit well with members of the farming community. * Mr. MacLeod, who is also senior county agent with the County Extension Service here, maintains farmers aren't going to agree with the Commission recommendations which include revision of the county’s water quality standards for nitrate pollution. AS SUBMITTED, the county plan permits development on smaller lot sizes thus creating a higher nitrate count in nonsewered areas. The county plan sets the maximum nitrate count at 10 parts per miillion. The commission wants a Pinelands standard for.groundwater of no more than 2 parts per million. The commission's nitrate standards are too restrictive, the county contends, noting that they would necessitate a minimum lot size of 3.2 acres whereas the county nitrate standard would enable building on lots as (Page 18 Please)

inside

SEV/N SPRAY will be dispersed on hundreds of acres... Page 4 BUT THERE ARE alternatives to the chemical.... Pag® 34 THE COMMANDANT of the Coast Guard will dedicate the new CG Chapel next week.... Page 16 YOU’LL BE WANTING to check the Tide Table, good for the entire county, now that the fish are bach.. .Page29

FRIDAY IS ARBOR DAY and this year marks its 100th anniversary observance by school children across the nation. Trying to decide on the proper spot for their tree are Middle Twp. Elementary students Dawn Roth, Mike Zane, Nicole Jones along with Mark Haefner, Chris Koppenhofer and Theresa Croiter. Arbor Day originated with pioneer J. Sterling Morton who advocated trees for the prairies of Nebraska, where it was first observed with the planting of a million seedlings in 1872. Survey Shows Regional Only Area School Eyeing Baccalaureate End

ERMA — Lower Cape May Regional High School may become the first public high schpol in Cape May County to discontinue holding baccalaureate services for

its graduating seniors.

Superintendent Ephraim Keller recommended to the Regional School Board in March that the district follow the lead of many other schools and eliminate the ceremony. He indicated there has been a drop of student interest in this kind of ceremony over the past several years. According to Mr. Keller, it isn't unusual for high schools not to hold baccalaureates; that many schools did away with/the traditional ceremony in the

withxthe

mm

down restricting the scope of religious activities which can take place in public

schools.

BUT THE REGIONAL superintendent's observations aren't substantiated in the county's three other public high school districts — Wildwood, Middle Township and Ocean City These schools continue to hohl baccalaureates and their administrators report good to excellent student response to the ceremonies. "We hold a baccalaureate each year the Sunday before graduation, and the attendance is excellent," Wildwood superintendent Arthur Motz said. "Student interest for a time dropped off in the mid-1970's but

mmm

Digest

Transit Hearings N.J. Transit has scheduled 8 p m hearings next Tuesday in Ocean City Hall and next'Wednesday in the Old Courthouse Building, Court House on proposals to eliminate the Cape May and Ocean City branches of the former PRSL rail line, and to increase bus fares an average of 1? per cent beginning in July. Elimination of the shore rail line is designed to save $750,000 as part of an overall $3.6 million in rail savings. This along with increased inter - and interstate increased fares, increased state fuftling and a hoped for reduction in furtner federal cutbacks in transit funds arc designed to offset a projected $66 million shortfall in the overall operating budget for fiscal '83, which begins in July Riparian Maps Due TRENTON - The first set of state riparian maps are expected to be adopted by the Tidelands Resource Council May

27

The council decided April 21 to adopt the first 710 maps which include most of the coastal aras of Cape May and. Atlantic counties and part of Ocean County. It appears that while few riparian claims will be levied along the oceanfront, there may be substantial claims along already developed back bay areas Vote Delay Sought ATLANTIC CITY Wildwood Crest officials were in court here April 23 continuing their fight to delay the scheduled May 25 referendum to deternajne if their resort will have beach fees this summer No decision was made on the borough's request Id stay the election until after its appeal of a previous court ruling that said voters have a right to decide the issue. Attorneys for both the municipality and the Concerned Citizens of Wildwood Crest who have been opposing the fees - were to have presented legal briefs on the matter no later than yesterday. Any further appeals would have to be lieard by the state Supreme Court. Vows Flood Aid WEST CAPE MAY - Congressman William Hughes told more than 200 concerned area residents Sunday that solving' erosion and flodding problems in the area of the South Cape May Meadows will require unified efforts between residents and officials in all South Jersey communities, state funding, and cooperation from the Army Corps, of Engineers The congressman vowed to work with local officials to develop a state DEP application to try to get permanent (Page 18 Please)